Researchers Using Data from Tropical Storm Irene to Prepare for Future Storms

Researchers from the University at Buffalo are using linked data from Tropical Storm Irene to conduct a damage assessment “that could help hard-hit communities in New York plan for future disasters.”

Researchers from the University at Buffalo are using linked data from Tropical Storm Irene to conduct a damage assessment “that could help hard-hit communities in New York plan for future disasters.” The article notes, “Through data analysis and modeling, the scientists will be able to categorize the flood in the context of historical disasters. The information the researchers produce could help planners create more accurate watershed models and flood maps to better protect communities and infrastructure along Schoharie Creek from a future disaster.”

Chris Renschler, LESAM director and MCEER investigator said, “The goal of our assessment is to look back and see what happened in the past, what happened now and how we’re going to do things in the future. While we’re assessing this particular event, we’re creating a baseline for this community to build a more resilient future.”

It adds, “Besides Renschler, members of the UB reconnaissance team included LESAM postdoctoral research scientist Graham Hayes and geography students Ryan Mendieta, Alejandro Llaves (an exchange student from the International Research Training Group on Semantic Integration of Geospatial Information) and Zhihao Wang.”